Access to local services by unauthenticated users

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention include a User Equipment UE, configured to: support access, via a serving network referred to as local network including an IMS network accessed by a PS domain, without user authentication, to services referred to as Local Services, including non-emergency services.

The present invention generally relates to communication networks and systems, in particular mobile communication networks and systems.

Descriptions of mobile networks and systems can be found in the literature, such as in particular in Technical Specifications published by standardization bodies such as for example 3 GPP (3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project).

In general, in a mobile communication system, a User Equipment UE has access to services via a serving network (serving PLMN). In particular, a UE can have access to services via a serving network including an IMS network accessed by a PS domain (such as EPC for LTE-based UE).

As recognized by the inventors and as will be described based on examples, access to special, non-emergency, services via a serving or visited network including an IMS network accessed by a PS domain, is not supported for unauthenticated users by current standard specifications.

Network and system improvements are needed for such support.

Embodiments of the present invention in particular address such needs. An example of services supported by embodiments of the present invention is the self activation of operator subscription by LTE-based UEs, whereby users call a special number to activate their subscription.

These and other objects are achieved, in one aspect, by a User Equipment UE, configured to:

-   -   support access, via a serving network referred to as local         network including an IMS network accessed by a PS domain,         without user authentication, to services referred to as Local         Services, including non-emergency services.

These and other objects are achieved, in another aspect, by a PS domain entity, configured to:

-   -   support access, by unauthenticated users, via a serving network         referred to as local network including an IMS network accessed         by said PS domain, to services referred to as Local Services,         including non-emergency services.

These and other objects are achieved, in another aspect, by an IMS network entity, configured to:

-   -   support access, by unauthenticated users, via a serving network         referred to as local network including said IMS network accessed         by a PS domain, to services referred to as Local Services,         including non-emergency services.

These and other objects are achieved, in another aspect, by a RAN entity, configured to:

-   -   broadcast system information indicating if access to Local         Services is supported by a local network, in a system supporting         access, by unauthenticated users, via a serving network referred         to as local network including an IMS network accessed by a PS         domain, to services referred to as Local Services, including         non-emergency services.

These and other objects are achieved, in another aspect, by method(s) for operating at least one of above mentioned entities of a mobile system (User Equipment, PS domain entity, IMS network entity, RAN entity), comprising at least one step performed by the thus configured entities.

Some embodiments of apparatus and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, intended to illustrate, in a simplified way, an example of signaling flow for access to Local Services by an unauthenticated user, according to embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS ASPECTS AND/OR EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

By way of example, the case of LTE-based UEs and of a PS domain corresponding to EPC accessed by E-UTRAN is more particularly considered in this description. However, it should be noted that embodiments of the invention are not limited to such example.

Some operators wish to enable UEs without a UICC (or with a damaged UICC) or with a “inactive” UICC or never activated UICC (i.e. without a corresponding valid subscription in the HSS) to access local service numbers with special usage, in the serving or visited PLMN, either for emergency call or operator usage.

One example use case is to support self activation of LTE devices: UEs that have not yet obtained valid operator contract and thus have not a valid subscriber profile in the operator network can attach to the network but only for the purpose of accessing an operator for self activation. After the subscriber signs the device up for an operator contract, the subscriber becomes a normal subscriber.

Other examples include accesses e.g. to IVR/Operator service, Concierge service, Operator customer care service, public information services.

Embodiments of this invention address the non-emergency use cases. Per existing 3 GPP specifications, UEs without an authenticated IMSI cannot Attach to E-UTRAN and therefore cannot establish normal calls and the underlying LTE bearers.

No standards solution exists to support such requirements.

Embodiments of the invention enable to support such requirements.

Embodiments of the invention define a new “Attach for Local Services” procedure, which enables UEs in limited service state (e.g. UICC-less UE or UE with a non activated UICC) to register to E-UTRAN to get access to local service numbers with special usage, in the serving or visited PLMN, for non-emergency services.

In some embodiments:

A UE which attaches for Local Services skips the IMS registration and in order to receive local services sends a SIP INVITE request to a local P-CSCF (in the serving or visited PLMN). From the Request-URI used, the local P-CSCF identifies this is a permitted call without prior registration and authentication. The IMS call is routed from the P-CSCF to a specific local CSCF and then to an Application Server known to support this feature. The Application Server only allows calls to local services, other calls are blocked.

In some embodiments:

The use of this new feature is permitted or not per the serving or visited operator's policy. The support of (and permission to use) this feature may be broadcasted by the RAN in the system information broadcast (SIB).

Embodiments of the invention are not only applicable to a PS domain accessed by E-UTRAN , e.g. embodiments of the invention are also applicable to a PS domain accessed by UTRAN.

Some embodiments of the invention define a new “Attach for Local Services” procedure, which enables UEs in limited service state (e.g. UICC-less UE or UE with a non activated UICC) to register to E-UTRAN to get access to local service numbers with special usage, in the visited (local) PLMN.

In some embodiments, part or all of the following EPC principles may apply for the new Attach Type for “Local Services”:

-   1. The MME is configured with MME Configuration Data for Local     Services (including the APN to use for Local Service, QoS, PGW FQDN     etc). -   2. The MME skips the authentication and security procedures during     an Attach for Local Services, or the MME accepts that the     authentication fails and continue with the Attach procedure. -   3. No NAS security (integrity, ciphering) is performed. -   4. The MME shall not send an Update Location Request to the HSS, or     the MME shall ignore any unsuccessful Update Location Answer from     the HSS and continue with the Attach procedure. The MME shall not     check access restriction. -   5. A specific APN is used for “Local Service” (e.g.     “IMS.Local.Services”). This APN identifies “Local Services” in the     PGW and PCRF. -   6. The PCRF shall only allow IMS sessions for Local Services: i.e.     the P-CSCF needs to provide a ‘local service’ indicator to the PCRF     at session setup. The UE shall provide such indication in the SIP     INVITE request. -   7. The MME rejects any attempt to establish another PDN connection.     UE requested PDN connectivity requests are not allowed for Attach     for Local Services.

In some embodiments:

The use of this new feature is permitted or not per the visited (local) operator's policy. The support of (and permission to use) this feature may be broadcast by the RAN in the system information (SIB).

In some embodiments: A UE without a UICC can initiate the Attach for Local Services. A UE with an “inactive” UICC (i.e. without a corresponding valid subscription in the HSS) gets rejected when doing a normal Attach with a cause indicating that the user is not authenticated. This UE may initiate then an Attach for Local Services, to access to local services in the visited PLMN.

In some embodiments, part or all of the following IMS principles may apply for the new Attach Type for “Local Services”:

-   8. A UE attached for Local Services skips the IMS registration. -   9. The UE sends a SIP INVITE request to a local P-CSCF. The IMS call     is routed from P-CSCF to a specific local CSCF and then to an     Application Server AS known to support this feature. Application     Server AS only allows calls to local services, other calls are     blocked. -   10. The SIP INVITE request has an R-URI with the new ‘local service”     indication. An example for such an indication is to use a service     specific URN that identifies the local services. This resolves the     problem of different local services numbers used by different     network operators, and ensures that the local P-CSCF does not need     an extensive table to match such numbers. -   11. The P-CSCF provides a ‘local service’ indicator to the PCRF at     session setup (see 6 above). -   12. The call is routed to a local CSCF, where filter criteria on the     service URN may well identify a specific application to support the     service request.

In some embodiments:

A UE that is roaming and is unauthenticated can Attach for Local Services in the visited PLMN and access Local Services in the visited PLMN. A UE without a UICC has no designated network and will therefore either find, or allow the user to select, a local network.

In some embodiments:

With UICC-less UE or unauthenticated IMSI, the IMEI of the UE can be used in the EPC to identify the UE. The IMSI, if available, can be passed on in the EPC signaling with an “unauthenticated” flag.

The accompanying figure is intended to illustrate, in a simplified way, an example of signaling flow for access to Local Services by an unauthenticated user, according to embodiments of the invention. The figure shows a simplified call flow, focusing on some key principles.

In some embodiments, EIR mechanisms can be applied as for existing 3 GPP procedures.

In some embodiments, part or all of following steps may be performed:

-   1. The UE requests to Attach for Local Services. -   2. The MME establishes a PDN connection, using the APN configured     for local services, towards a PGW configured in its Configuration     Data for Local Services. -   5. After the Attach is completed, the UE sends a SIP INVITE request     including a ‘local service’ indication. -   6. The P-CSCF forwards the ‘local service’ indication to the PCRF     during the IMS session setup. This enables to ensure that the SIP     session established over the PDN connection is only used to access     Local Services. -   8. The P-CSCF routes the SIP session for Local Services towards a     Local CSCF known to support Local Services. -   9. The Local CSCF routes the SIP session for Local Services towards     an AS known to support Local Services. -   10. The AS only allows the IMS session to use Local Services. The AS     routes the call towards the Local Service. -   11. The SIP session for Local Services is established. The SIP 200     OK can be preceded by other provisional responses as appropriate for     the mechanism of handling the call.

Embodiments of the invention thus enable unauthenticated users to get access to Local Services with special usage in the serving or visited PLMN, via the PS domain and IMS. The Local Services can be for operator usage. An example is the self activation of operator subscription, whereby users call a special number to activate their subscription. Embodiments of the invention provide new service opportunities for operators.

Acronyms:

-   APN Access Point Name -   AS Application Server -   CSCF Call Session Control Function -   EIR Equipment Identity Register -   EPC Evolved Packet Core -   E-UTRAN Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network -   FQDN Fully Qualified Domain Name -   HSS Home Subscriber Server -   ISD Insert Subscriber Data -   IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity -   IMEI International Mobile Station Equipment Identity -   IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem -   IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity -   IVR Interactive Voice Response -   LTE Long Term Evolution -   MME Mobility Management Entity -   PCRF Policy and Charging Rules Function -   P-CSCF Proxy- Call Session Control Function -   PS Packet-Switched -   QoS Quality of Service -   RAN Radio Access Network -   SIP Session Initiation Protocol -   PDN Packet Data Network -   PGW PDN Gateway -   PLMN Public Land Mobile Network -   UE User Equipment -   UICC Universal Integrated Circuit Card -   URI Uniform Resource Identifier -   URN Uniform Resource Name -   UTRAN Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network

Various aspects and/or embodiments of the invention include (though not being limited to) following aspects and/or embodiments.

Some aspects are related to a User Equipment UE.

Various embodiments are provided, including (though not being limited to) following embodiments, which may be taken alone or in combination, according to various combinations.

In an embodiment, said User Equipment UE is configured to:

-   -   support access, via a serving network referred to as local         network including an IMS network accessed by a PS domain,         without user authentication, to services referred to as Local         Services, including non-emergency services.

In an embodiment, said User Equipment UE is configured to:

-   -   provide, in an Attach request to said PS domain, an indication         that said Attach is for access to said Local Services.

In an embodiment, said User Equipment UE is configured to:

-   -   skip IMS registration prior to establishing an IMS session for         access to said Local Services.

In an embodiment, said User Equipment UE is configured to:

-   -   send a SIP INVITE request for IMS session establishment, with an         indication that this is for access to said Local Services,         towards a P-CSCF, referred to as local P-CSCF, in said local         network.

In an embodiment, said User Equipment UE is configured to:

-   -   provide a Local Service indication with a Request-URI in a SIP         INVITE request for IMS session establishment for access to said         Local Services.

In an embodiment:

-   -   said Local Service indication includes a Local Service-specific         URN.

In an embodiment, said User Equipment UE is configured to:

-   -   initiate procedures to access to said Local Services, without         user authentication, only if access to Local Services is         supported by said local network.

In an embodiment, said User Equipment UE is configured to:

-   -   receive broadcast system information, indicating if said access         to Local Services is supported by said local network.

Other aspects are related to a PS domain entity.

Various embodiments are provided, including (though not being limited to) following embodiments, which may be taken alone or in combination, according to various combinations.

In an embodiment, said PS domain entity is configured to:

-   -   support access, by unauthenticated users, via a serving network         referred to as local network including an IMS network accessed         by said PS domain, to services referred to as Local Services,         including non-emergency services.

In an embodiment, said PS domain entity, such as MME for EPC, is configured to perform at least one of:

-   -   receive an Attach request including an indication that said         Attach is for access to said Local Services,     -   skip authentication during an Attach procedure for access to         said Local Services, or accept that the authentication fails and         continue with the Attach procedure,     -   not perform NAS security,     -   send no Update Location Request to the HSS, or ignore any         unsuccessful Update Location Answer from the HSS and continue         with the Attach procedure,     -   establish a PDN connection, using Configuration Data for Local         Services, for a UE attached for access to said Local Services,     -   reject any attempt to establish another PDN connection.

In an embodiment, said Configuration Data include at least one of:

-   -   an APN to use for access to said Local Services,     -   a FQDN of a PGW to use for access to said Local Services,     -   a QoS required for a PDN connection for access to said Local         Services.

In an embodiment, said PS domain entity, such as PCRF, is configured to:

-   -   receive from a P-CSCF a Local Service indication, at IMS session         establishment for access to said Local Services,     -   based on said Local Service indication, only allow IMS session         for said Local Services.

Other aspects are related to a IMS network entity.

Various embodiments are provided, including (though not being limited to) following embodiments, which may be taken alone or in combination, according to various combinations.

In an embodiment, said IMS network entity is configured to:

-   -   support access, by unauthenticated users, via a serving network         referred to as local network including said IMS network accessed         by a PS domain, to services referred to as Local Services,         including non-emergency services.

In an embodiment, said IMS network entity comprises a P-CSCF configured to perform at least one of:

-   -   receive a SIP INVITE request for IMS session establishment, said         request including a Request-URI with a Local Service indication,     -   forward to the PCRF the Local Service indication, at IMS session         establishment for access to said Local Services,     -   based on said Local Service indication, route the request to a         local CSCF in said local network, referred to as local CSCF,         supporting said Local Service.

In an embodiment:

-   -   said Local Service indication includes a Local Service-specific         URN.

In an embodiment, said IMS network entity comprises a local CSCF configured to:

-   -   receive a SIP INVITE request for IMS session establishment, said         request including a Request-URI with a Local Service indication,     -   based on said Local Service indication, route the request to an         application server supporting said Local Service.

In an embodiment:

-   -   said Local Service indication includes a Local Service-specific         URN.         In an embodiment said IMS network entity comprises a local CSCF         configured to:     -   use filter criteria on said Local Service indication, to         identify said application server.

In an embodiment, said IMS network entity comprises an application server configured to:

-   -   receive a SIP INVITE request for IMS session establishment, said         request including a Request-URI with a Local Service indication,     -   route the request to said Local Service.

In an embodiment, said IMS network entity comprises an application server configured to:

-   -   allow IMS session establishment only for said Local Service.

Other aspects are related to a RAN entity.

Various embodiments are provided, including (though not being limited to) following embodiments.

In an embodiment, said RAN entity is configured to:

-   -   broadcast system information indicating if access to Local         Services is supported by a local network, in a system supporting         access, by unauthenticated users, via a serving network referred         to as local network including an IMS network accessed by a PS         domain, to services referred to as Local Services, including         non-emergency services.

Other aspects are related to method(s) for operating at least one of above mentioned entities of a mobile system (User Equipment, PS domain entity, IMS network entity, RAN entity), comprising at least one step performed by the thus configured entities.

A person of skill in the art would readily recognize that steps of various above-described methods can be performed by programmed computers. Herein, some embodiments are also intended to cover program storage devices, e.g., digital data storage media, which are machine or computer readable and encode machine-executable or computer-executable programs of instructions, wherein said instructions perform some or all of the steps of said above-described methods. The program storage devices may be, e.g., digital memories, magnetic storage media such as a magnetic disks and magnetic tapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data storage media. The embodiments are also intended to cover computers programmed to perform said steps of the above-described methods. 

1-22. (canceled)
 23. An apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: support access, via a serving network referred to as local network including an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network accessed by a packet-switched domain, by an unauthenticated user, to non-emergency local services in said local network, per local operator's policy.
 24. An apparatus according to claim 23, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: provide, in an attach request to said packet-switched domain, an indication that said attach request is for access to said local services.
 25. An apparatus according to claim 23, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: skip IMS registration prior to establishing an IMS session for access to said local services.
 26. An apparatus according to claim 23, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: send a session initiation protocol SIP invite request for IMS session establishment, with an indication that this is for access to said local services, towards a proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF), referred to as local P-CSCF, in said local network.
 27. An apparatus according to claim 23, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: provide a local service indication with a request-uniform resource identifier (URI) in a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite request for IMS session establishment for access to said local services.
 28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein: said local service indication includes a local service-specific uniform resource name (URN).
 29. An apparatus according to claim 23, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: initiate procedures to access to said local services without user authentication, if access to local services is supported by said local network.
 30. An apparatus according to claim 23, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive broadcast system information indicating if said access to local services is supported by said local network.
 31. A method comprising: supporting access, via a serving network referred to as local network including an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network accessed by a packet-switched domain, by an unauthenticated user, to non-emergency local services in said local network, per local operator's policy.
 32. A method according to claim 31, comprising: providing, in an attach request to said packet-switched domain, an indication that said attach request is for access to said local services.
 33. A method according to claim 31, comprising: skipping IMS registration prior to establishing an IMS session for access to said local services.
 34. A method according to claim 31, comprising: sending a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite request for IMS session establishment, with an indication that this is for access to said local services, towards a proxy-call session control function (P-CSCF), referred to as local P-CSCF, in said local network.
 35. A method according to claim 31, comprising: providing a local service indication with a request-uniform resource identifier (URI) in a session initiation protocol (SIP) invite request for IMS session establishment for access to said local services.
 36. A method according to claim 35, wherein: said local service indication includes a local service-specific uniform resource number (URN).
 37. A method according to claim 31, comprising: initiating procedures to access to said local services without user authentication, if access to local services is supported by said local network.
 38. A method according to claim 31, comprising: receiving broadcast system information indicating if said access to local services is supported by said local network. 